forcements having joined them, under Probus, the hope that
supplies would fail them seemed vain, while, on the other hand, is taken
those of the city began at length to be exhausted. It waspris0
therefore resolved that Zenobia in person should seek further a d . 273.
assistance from Persia.1
The departure of the queen took place during the night, by,
it is supposed, one of the channels constructed for cleansing the
town; and, mounted on a dromedary, she made her way almost
unattended towards Zelebi. But her escape having been made
known, some fleet horsemen overtook the fugitive on the very
banks of the Euphrates, and Zenobia returned as a captive to
Aurelian. All hope of assistance from Persia was now at an
end, and the question of capitulation to avoid starvation was
therefore seriously agitated within the city. A certain party,
animated by the spirit of the warrior-philosopher Longinus,
urged its defence to the last extremity, whilst another proposed
to capitulate. The latter, which was headed by Sandarion, pan 0f
prevailed, and the siege terminated. Palmyra,
Taking with him the spoils of the city, Aurelian returned to
Emessa, where he caused Zenobia, and those who had favoured
her revolt, to be examined. The queen pleaded the peculiar
circumstances in which she had been placed, the weakness of
her sex, and the injudicious advice of her counsellors, including,
it is said, the faithful Longinus, who, to the disgrace of the and execution , 9 .. of Longinus. emperor, was executed.
Zenobia claimed descent from Cleopatra and the Ptolemies. Character of
She is said to have understood the Egyptian, Greek, and Latin
languages, and to have been acquainted, through Longinus,
with Oriental and Egyptian history. To these intellectual
accomplishments were added personal bravery and skill in
martial exercises. Zenobia appears to have possessed some of
the high qualities which so eminently belonged to her husband,
although during her reverses in Syria, and the latter part of the
siege of Palmyra, she scarcely displayed that courage and
constancy for which she has obtained such credit.
Aurelian had scarcely ended the siege, when he was recalled
1 Vopis,, Hist. August., cap. xxviii.; Zosim., lib. I., pp. 44, 48, 50.
f Zosim., p. 51 ; Vopis., Aurei. vit., cap. xxviii.-xxx.